2008 Meadville Tribune Girls Volleyball Dream Team Player of the Year — Katy Sheehan, Cochranton, Sr. Setter — Becca Beightol, Maplewood, Sr. Picking the annual Tribune Player of the Year is no easy task and its players like Beightol who make it difficult. Beightol was strongly considered for POTY after an outstanding season, particulalry in the second half of the season that helped the Tigers turn around their season. Beightol finished with 673 assists, 261 kills, 73 service aces, 144 digs, 102 blocks and 263 service points. Middle hitter — Leann Bortner-Yasay, Cochranton, Sr. With seven key players gone, Bortner-Yasay was expected to step up and have a big year for the Cardinals and she did just that. Bortner-Yasay led the Cardinals with 428 kills and 110 blocks with 41 service aces. Middle hitter— Alyssa Pears, Meadville, Sr. Meadville returned to the District 10 playoffs this year after a three-year hiatus and Pears was a big reason why. Pears led the Bulldogs with 200 kills, while adding 90 digs, 33 services aces and 23 blocks. Outside hitter— Mary Sperry, Conneaut Lake, Sr. With the loss of 2007 Meadville Tribune Player of the Year Chantal Haase, Conneaut Lake needed someone to step up big this season on offense. Enter Sperry. Sperry finished the season with 339 kills, 281 digs, 89 blocks and 72 service aces, while leading the team in free ball passing percentage (89 percent) and serve-receiving (84% efficiency). Outside hitter — Nicki Harmon, Saegertown, Sr. Saegertown enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in years thanks in large part to Harmon, who was the Panthers’ go-to player all season. Harmon finished the regular season with 173 kills and 138 digs as Saegertown advanced to the first round of the state tournament for the first time since the late 1990s. Outside hitter — Courtney Lydick, General McLane, Jr. Lydick helped lead General McLane to its first District 10 championship in 26 years and first trip to the state quarterfinals since 1991 this season. She tallied 178 kills during the regular season with approximately 110 more, during the postseason. Libero — Gabby Schultz, Saegertown, Sr. Schultz was the glue that helped keep everything together at Saegertown. She proved that when she suffered an injury during warmups prior to the Panthers’ District 10 Class A championship game against Maplewood and could not play. The Panthers struggled in her absence, particularly on serve-receive, and suffered its only loss of the tournament.
Player of the Year — Katy Sheehan, Cochranton, Sr.
Setter — Becca Beightol, Maplewood, Sr.
Picking the annual Tribune Player of the Year is no easy task and its players like Beightol who make it difficult. Beightol was strongly considered for POTY after an outstanding season, particulalry in the second half of the season that helped the Tigers turn around their season. Beightol finished with 673 assists, 261 kills, 73 service aces, 144 digs, 102 blocks and 263 service points.
Middle hitter — Leann Bortner-Yasay, Cochranton, Sr.
With seven key players gone, Bortner-Yasay was expected to step up and have a big year for the Cardinals and she did just that. Bortner-Yasay led the Cardinals with 428 kills and 110 blocks with 41 service aces.
Middle hitter — Alyssa Pears, Meadville, Sr.
Meadville returned to the District 10 playoffs this year after a three-year hiatus and Pears was a big reason why. Pears led the Bulldogs with 200 kills, while adding 90 digs, 33 services aces and 23 blocks.
Outside hitter — Mary Sperry, Conneaut Lake, Sr.
With the loss of 2007 Meadville Tribune Player of the Year Chantal Haase, Conneaut Lake needed someone to step up big this season on offense. Enter Sperry. Sperry finished the season with 339 kills, 281 digs, 89 blocks and 72 service aces, while leading the team in free ball passing percentage (89 percent) and serve-receiving (84% efficiency).
Outside hitter — Nicki Harmon, Saegertown, Sr.
Saegertown enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in years thanks in large part to Harmon, who was the Panthers’ go-to player all season. Harmon finished the regular season with 173 kills and 138 digs as Saegertown advanced to the first round of the state tournament for the first time since the late 1990s.
Outside hitter — Courtney Lydick, General McLane, Jr.
Lydick helped lead General McLane to its first District 10 championship in 26 years and first trip to the state quarterfinals since 1991 this season. She tallied 178 kills during the regular season with approximately 110 more, during the postseason.
Libero — Gabby Schultz, Saegertown, Sr.
Schultz was the glue that helped keep everything together at Saegertown. She proved that when she suffered an injury during warmups prior to the Panthers’ District 10 Class A championship game against Maplewood and could not play. The Panthers struggled in her absence, particularly on serve-receive, and suffered its only loss of the tournament.